National Tour - Happy Mother's Day

We are on a national tour, Indiana for Ethan's baptism, New York City to see Julianne and Southlake, Texas on Wednesday to see the Horn's - home on Saturday night. In the midst of our journey we find Mother's Day. To each of the mother's, or mother's to be, in our family; may your reflections on this wonderful day turn heavenward in gratitude for all this has been and continues to be given, for I do as I thank a loving Heavenly Father for each of you. My appreciation for the sacrifices, gifts and love extended by each of you is immeasurable. As we look to the challenges in our society, my thoughts ponder, what if...? Our society has, for many years, sought to diminish the role of motherhood, seeking to secularize that which is divinely given. Thanks to each of you for your sustaining and loving kindness, born of a divine understanding of what truly matters. Each of you have had a profound affect on those of us nurtured by your tenderness - as recipients of your love, or obersevers of your wonderful examples. I am grateful for each, for your love, for your tenderness, for your perspective and for your great examples.

It saddens me when I look about and see the sacred role of mother supplanted in society, and reaffirms in my heart the gratitude I have that you are in our lives. I posted previously about the mother's and mother's to be in our family here.

In further reflection and reading of past blogs, I regret having not continued my Sabbath Reflections, having become over laden with too much stuff - time reminds me to simplify and begin again.

Photoshop Technology - Thanks Matthew

For those who asked for the picture of Delicate Arch - Here you go! Amazingly, Matthew was able to clean up the photo to give the appearance that no one else was there - he even put the top back up on the arch that our kind photographer deleted. Thanks Matthew.

Happy Parker Day!

Julianne made reference to it here, but we wanted all to know what a wonderful day it is - Parker Day. Forty years ago today, Lauren and I began a journey together that has brought joy beyond measure, 6 amazing sons and daughters, 5 wonderful companions to our sons and daughters, and 14 grandchildren. It began with the Spring Fling at Disneyland in 1969, and continues today and through eternity. We have traveled the world together as a family, we have experienced things we never could have imagined, we have had our midnight moments through trial and tribulation, we have laughed and we have cried, we have lived with uncertainty and prosperity, all of which have provided perspective that brings us to a remembrance of what truly matters.

We spent the past couple of days at the Sorrel River Ranch,

reminiscing about our experiences together and as a family these past years, thinking about the abundant joys of the present and the hopes for our individual and collective futures. Every day is truly a gift and we are grateful for the tender mercies of the Savior that have made it all possible. We floated on the Colorado River today and took in the beauty that enveloped us. We spent Thursday on an advanced trek to the Delicate Arch in Arches National Park. We would have posted our photo together but the guy taking the photo cut out the arch. No cell connections, no computers, some amazing scenery and wonderful moments and memories.

Easter - A Wonderful and Solemn Remembrance

As we ponder the wonder of it all, amid worldly commotion, may we express our humble and heartfelt gratitude for the tender mercies and love of our Friend and Savior.

A personal witness and relationship with the Master affords only joy unmeasured. I am grateful for each who exhibit such in their lives as they offer needed encouragement amid the storms of life.

Congratulations

Congratulations to Lincoln - a Great Day in Las Vegas!
Monday night Lincoln received his White Coat

The Happy Couple

The Class of 2012

A Happy Day!

Be Mine

Lauren and I have been together for 40 years this Spring, since the Spring Fling at Disneyland in 1969. Forty wonderful years! Without doubt, love is eternal and amid the vissitudes and experiences of life, only grows stronger. Love is pure and the foundational source for joy, evidenced in the example of He whose love for each of us is without measure. It is reassuring and comforting amid the uncertainties of mortality that we are one by loving covenant for "time and all eternity." There is great peace and joy in eternal perspectives, and knowing what is and what can be, because of a loving price paid so long ago. To all, and especially to Lauren, Happy Valentine's Day!

Thank you for enduring well the infirmities and uncertainties of mortality-you are my strength in the midnight moments of life.

The Tour Continues - Pure Joy

The joys of life reside in family, and the past couple weeks have been full. Three basketball games on three consecutive Saturdays; Jack in San Clemente, Ethan in Carmel and Parker in Southlake. Next week it is Mesa and then on to Lincoln's White Coat Ceremony in Las Vegas. Amid the challenges in our society, family offers comfort and perspective. We are grateful for the peaceable things that are resident in the love of family and the joys of children and grandchildren.

Miles came nose to nose with me yesterday and said, tounge in cheek, "Pa, you are weird." You have to love it! We are grateful for all 14 of these precious souls.

US Tour - Joys of Life!

We are on a brief tour of the US, visiting our family. New York, California, Nevada and Indiana this past week, and Texas, Arizona and Nevada in the next 2 1/2 weeks.

Some highlights (my forte is not photography, look only to the subject matter) - more to follow. A new camera must be in the offing.

You would hope that with six kids, they would live near unto each other - but! Our national tours keep us young, I think.

It Is Finished, and Now a New Beginning

Having been compelled to humility - PC's are done and on to the iMAC. Yes, to all of our kids and their intelligent spouses, we have turned to stability and simplicity and purchased not one, but two MACs. If only I had listened long ago, what grief would have been saved, even my files!

So a new life begins and blogs will return. Sorry for the absence Mom.

On another note, our near term schedule has us in Washington DC and New York (Lauren) and California and Nevada (David) this weekend. Then off to Indy, as if it isn't cold enough in Sundance, and then Southlake (let's hope it warms up) for the two weeks following. Home a couple of days and then off to Mesa and Las Vegas (Lincoln's White Coat Ceremony is on the 23rd).

It Has Been Awhile - So Go the Computer Wars! PC or MAC?

Yes, it has been far too long. I can make all kinds of excuses for a post failure, but the substance of the issue in 2009 has been computer wars! My HP Pavilion Notebook has been on the fritz and quite unstable since the first of the year. It's progression has led to a complete failure and hard drive crash this weekend, leaving me without. Without files, pictures, skype, email, presentations, spreadsheets and the like! Bummer - yes, absolutely. In a world of independence, man (and me, especially) has become totally dependent upon the machinations of one Bill Gates. In the past 5 years, I have purchased a Sony notebook (hard drive crashed the night before the Newport Beach Temple VIP Open House), a Toshiba which has been on and off for 3 years and burns your hand after operating for 15 minutes, and this past April the HP Pavilion (hard drive just crashed). The computers have been challenging, but they have been inconsequential compared to the idiocy and frustrations derived from Mr. Gates' Vista! And then, when compounded with the HP printers, I have reached the pinnacle! You would think that HP could produce printers that sync with HP computers, all of which are grounded in the "failings" of Microsoft.

Albert Einstein once said the definition of insanity, to paraphrase, is to do the same thing over and over expecting different results. Hence my dilema, am I insane? The quandry, quickly evaporating, is delving back into the PC world or join the ranks of all others in our family who have converted to MAC (yes, Mike I am almost there, just give me one more night of compelled humility!).

So, here is the plan - tomorrow evening it is off to the Apple store to buy a MacPro or iMAC desktop and a lightweight MacBook. PC's are history and forever lost to the junk heap. I have 3 PC Notebooks for sale for any who seeks an adventure and lacks frustration in their lives! Once re-computered, the blogging will continue. Be well!